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Formula One: American Michael Lewis tests a 2009 Ferrari

November 15, 2011

American Michael Lewis, right, and Sergio Campana tested a 2009 Ferrari Formula One car in Italy.

American racer Michael Lewis on Tuesday tested a 2009 Ferrari Formula One car at the Vallelunga track near Rome. The outing was his prize for being the top rookie this season in the Italian Formula Three series.

Lewis, who also finished second overall in the Italian F3 championship, was joined by series title winner Sergio Campana.

The test was organized by the CSAI, the Italian motorsports federation, and was supervised by Luca Baldiserri, formerly one of Ferrari's top race engineers from the Michael Schumacher era.

Both drivers completed about 50 laps, with Lewis using the seat made for Giancarlo Fisichella in 2009.

Lewis drove in the morning and recorded a best lap of 1 minute, 21.0 seconds, while Campana was 0.4 second faster in warmer conditions in the afternoon.

Lewis is the first American to drive a contemporary factory-backed Ferrari since Mario Andretti drove in the Italian and Las Vegas Grands Prix with the team in 1982.

"I was sure I would have felt strong emotions, but I would have not believed this much!" said Lewis. "Everything here is multiplied compared to what I am used to do while driving a Formula Three car. It is really tough to get to the limit but it is exciting to feel all that power and that force in fast corners and under braking.

"Everything is multiplied but the car's dynamics are the same. There is no doubt that Formula Three is an extraordinary school allowing me to reach this moment ready. It is fantastic to have this experience behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula One car. It is a dream for everyone, and it is so also for an American like me".

"I cannot explain my feeling," Campana said. "Feeling that engine pushing, aerodynamics flattening you, brakes allowing you to brake nearly inside the corner, gear shifts in thousandths of seconds--Formula One is fantastic! The Ferrari Formula One car is fantastic! For an Italian driver, it is something unbelievable.

"I reckon that from tomorrow on, I will fill the walls of my house with today's pictures. I am hopeful I left a good impression. I do not know what will happen in the future and I do not even want to think about it now, I just want to enjoy a bit this moment. Continuing my career with single-seaters would be fantastic."